“A Dying Man’s Last Words”

Effectively Spiritually Leading Your Peers

Contact InfoOmar Miranda

E-mail: omiranda@rhpa.org

Cell. 770.354.2912

Web: insightmagazine.org

Powerpoint Presentation: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4cJJM9F6-UVR3FQUlB3LXJzNW8/edit?usp=sharing

Getting to Know YouA little about me and my experience as a SDA Christian & youth.

A little about you:Are you from an SDA Christian family?

Why have you joined church?

Have you accepted Jesus?

Are you baptized?

Is there something in your life right now that’s keeping you from going deeper with Jesus? Are you a hypocrite?

Why did you want to become a spiritual leader?

Why have you attended this retreat? What are you hoping to receive from your time here?

Outline

Background Of 1 & 2 Timothy

Selected Passages

Helpful Resources

Question/Answer

Background of 1 & 2 TimothyTimothy was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. He joined Paul during one of Paul’s later

missionary journeys. Paul addresses Timothy in his first letter to him as "my true son in the faith.” He was probably no older than late teens/early twenties when he joined Paul, but had already distinguished himself as faithful, so that the elders noticed him. He probably heard the gospel when Paul came through the area on his first missionary journey, but we don’t know for sure. Timothy served as Paul’s representative to several churches and he was later a pastor in Ephesus.

Paul says Timothy had a “genuine faith,” the same as that which lived in his mother and grandmother. They both prepared Timothy to accept Christ when he heard of Him by teaching him the Old Testament Scriptures and preparing him “from infancy” to recognize the Messiah when He appeared. When Paul came preaching Christ, all three accepted his teaching and committed their lives to the Savior.

During his fourth missionary journey, Paul had instructed Timothy to care for the church at Ephesus while he went on to Macedonia. When he realized that he might not return to Ephesus in the near future, he wrote this first letter to Timothy to develop the charge he had given his young assistant, to refute false teachings and to supervise the affairs of the growing Ephesian church. A major problem in the Ephesian church was a heresy that combined Gnosticism (doctrine that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, decadent Judaism, and false asceticism (lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various worldly pleasures, often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals).

After Paul’s release from prison in Rome in a.d. 62 and after hi s fourth missionary journey, during which he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul was again imprisoned under Emperor Nero c. 66–67. It was during this time that he wrote 2 Timothy. In contrast to his first imprisonment, when he lived in a “rented house,” he now languished in a cold dungeon, chained like a common criminal. His friends even had a hard time finding out where he was being kept. Paul knew that his work was done and that his life was nearly at an end. He is a prisoner. He's about to be executed. And there is a man who is to take his place, his son in the faith, Timothy.

Paul had three reasons for writing to Timothy at this time:Paul was lonely. Two key ministry members had deserted him. Three other ministry team members were away, and only Doc Luke was with him. Paul wanted very much for Timothy to join him also. Timothy was his “fellow worker,” who “as a son with his father” had served closely with Paul). Of him Paul could say, “I have no one else like him.” Paul longed for Timothy and twice asked him to come soon.

Paul was concerned about the welfare of the churches during this time of persecution under Nero.

Paul wanted to write to the Ephesian church through his letter to Timothy.

Key Passages1 Timothy 4: 7b-8, 12-16 (NIV) “ . . . train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Principles

Godliness/Holiness takes time & training. It doesn’t come naturally and you have to work at it.

Don’t let anyone look down on you b/c you’re young. Take this stuff seriously. Take yourself seriously, b/c if you don’t, then nobody will.

Don’t stop . . . Never stop! Constant perseverance will mean success and salvation for yourself—and for others.

Application

1 Timothy 6:6-12 (NIV)

“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Principles

Learn to be content and you’ll be happier and holier

Love God more than anything

Stay far away from Christians who are worldly and materialistic and actively pursue holiness

Applications

2 Timothy 1:7-8, 13-14 (NIV)

“ . . . fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

Principles

Don’t be timid, embarrassed or afraid to use the Spiritual gift that God has given you.

If you choose to fully and boldly use your Spiritual gift(s), you will be persecuted.

Use your Spiritual gift(s) responsibly and take them seriously. Use every opportunity you have to develop them and make yourself better and better trained for God’s service. Never stop being a life-long learner.

Application

2 Timothy 2:1-5, 15, 22-26 (NIV)

“ . . . be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Principles

Teach others to be disciples

You’re here to do God’s work. You are His servant! Don’t get distracted.

Take every opportunity to understand how not just to read the Bible—but to study it!

There will always be people who oppose you, but you must interact with them respectfully and effectively. Don’t argue disrespectfully with them. Don’t fight fire with fire.

Application

2 Timothy 3:1-5, 12-17 (NIV)

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Principles

There will be many “Christians” who act like non-Christians—have nothing to do with them.

If you seek to be holy, you will be persecuted.

Continue to press on in your quest for holiness and continue to do what you’re supposed to be doing.

All of the Bible will give you what you need to effectively handle all of life!

Application

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV)

“4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Principles

There is urgency to your ministry: Jesus is coming back soon—and He will hold you accountable for what you did and didn’t do!

You need to be prepared at anytime to tell others about Jesus. Sometimes this means helping mistaken people rightly understand the Bible—but always respectfully and kindly.

People don’t want to hear the truth. They want a watered-down gospel—the Gospel-light! It doesn’t matter! You tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Obey God and let Him handle the consequences.

Application

The Little Old White Lady

“To hate and reprove sin, and at the same time to show pity and tenderness for the sinner, is a difficult attainment. The more earnest our own efforts to attain to holiness of heart and life, the more acute will be our perception of sin and the more decided our disapproval of any deviation from the right. We must guard against undue severity toward the wrongdoer, but we must also be careful not to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. There is need of showing Christ like patience and love for the erring one, but there is also danger of showing so great toleration for his error that he will look upon himself as undeserving of reproof, and will reject it as uncalled for and unjust. (E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, P. 503-504)

The Little Old White Lady

“The apostle does not here refer to the openly irreligious, but to the professing Christians who make inclination their guide, and thus become enslaved by self. Such are willing to listen to those doctrines only that do not rebuke their sins or condemn their pleasure-loving course. They are offended by the plain words of the faithful servants of Christ and choose teachers who praise and flatter them. And among professing ministers there are those who preach the opinions of men instead of the word of God. Unfaithful to their trust, they lead astray those who look to them for spiritual guidance.” (E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, P. 503-504)

 

The Little Old White Lady

What the church needs in these days of peril is an army of workers who, like Paul, have educated themselves for usefulness, who have a deep experience in the things of God, and who are filled with earnestness and zeal. Sanctified, self-sacrificing men are needed; men who will not shun trial and responsibility; men who are brave and true; men in whose hearts Christ is formed "the hope of glory," and who with lips touched with holy fire will "preach the word." For want of such workers the cause of God languishes, and fatal errors, like a deadly poison, taint the morals and blight the hopes of a large part of the human race. As the faithful, toilworn standard-bearers are offering up their lives for the truth's sake, who will come forward to take their place? Will our young men accept the holy trust at the hands of their fathers? Are they preparing to fill the vacancies made by the death of the faithful? Will the apostle's charge be heeded, the call to duty be heard, amidst the incitements to selfishness and ambition that allure the youth? (E.G. White, Acts of the Apostles, P. 507-508)

Christian Army?What if half the soldiers in an army were idling or asleep when ordered to be on duty; the result would be defeat, captivity, or death. Should any escape from the hands of the enemy, would they be thought worthy of a reward? No; they would speedily receive the sentence of death. And is the church of Christ careless or unfaithful, far more important consequences are involved. A sleeping army of Christian soldiers—what could be more terrible? What advance could be made against the world, who are under the control of the prince of darkness? Those who stand back indifferently in the day of battle, as though they had no interest and felt no responsibility as to the issue of the contest, might better change their course or leave the ranks at once.—Testimonies for the Church 5:394. {ChS 82.3}

Famous Second-to-Last Words

“In order that the work may go forward in all its branches, God calls for youthful vigor, zeal and courage. He has chosen the youth to aid in the advancement of His cause. To plan with clear mind and execute with courageous hand demands fresh uncrippled energies. Young men and women are invited to give God the strength of their youth, that through the exercise of their powers, through keen thought and vigorous action, they may bring glory to Him and salvation to their fellow men.” (E. G. White, Evangelism, p. 478).

Famous Last Words

“Preachers, or layman advanced in years, can not have one half the influence upon the young that the youth, devoted to God, can have upon their associates." "With such an army of workers, as our youth, properly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon coming Savior might be carried to the whole world." (E.G. White, Messages to Young People, Nashville: Southern, 1930, p. 204, 196)

Resources• “Steps to Christ” Youth Edition by: E.G. White (Advent

Source)

“Connection” by: Steve Case https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/connection-how-to-have-relationship/id435293705

• “Messages to Young People” by: E.G. White

• “The New How to Study Your Bible” by: Kay Arthur, David Arthur & Pete DeLacy (http://precept.org/about_inductive_bible_study)

• “Communicating for a Change” by: Andy Stanley & Lane Jones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GSVSfaCyf8)

• “The 7 Best Practices for Teaching Teenagers the Bible” by: Andy Blanks

Question & Answer